What’s new with Employment Services

Why are the laws being changed?

The legislative changes are based on the Programme of Petteri Orpo's Government. The goals are the following:

• faster employment for jobseekers
• clearer obligations and more predictable sanctions
• a more personalised and simplified service process
• strengthening the role of Job Market Finland and job applicant profiles in employment services
• reduction of administrative work in rehabilitative work activities, for example.

When will the changes come into force?

The parliamentary consideration of the legislative proposals is ongoing, and the final provisions may still change. The laws will be confirmed no later than by the end of 2025.

According to the approved laws, the schedule will be as follows:

• 1 January 2026: Most of the changes proposed in the bill on the development of employment services (TYKE bill) to jobseekers’ service process and obligation to seek employment
• 1 February 2026: Amendments to the Act on Social Assistance
• 1 March 2026: Unemployment security sanctions and the discontinuation of the reminder procedure in accordance with the TYKE bill
• 1 May 2026: The general social security benefit will come into effect as a new benefit
• 1 September 2026: Obligations concerning job applicant profiles and the Job Market Finland platform 

Legislation concerning the jobseeker service process and employment services will be reformed (TYKE). The aim of the change is to create a more flexible service process, more precise employment plan, stricter job search obligations for part-time employees and more binding job offers. The obligation for young people to seek education will also change.

The TYKE amendment will mainly come into force on 1 January 2026. The changes concerning unemployment security sanctions will enter into force on 1 March 2026, and the obligations relating to the service platform (Job Market Finland) and job applicant profiles will enter into force on 1 September 2026.

How has the process of dealing with Employment Services changed?

Under the new law, the service process for jobseekers has changed as follows:

• The initial interview will take place without undue delay and no later than 10 working days after the start of your job search. 
  – During the initial interview, we will go through your rights and obligations as a jobseeker and instruct you to create a job applicant profile in Job Market Finland.
• We will arrange supplementary job search discussions based on your service needs and no longer automatically at regular intervals. 
  – The aim is to target these discussions at those who need them the most.
• We will expand service needs assessments. The assessment will take into account your job search skills, your ability to search for work independently and your chances of finding employment on the open job market. Information from the income register and your job applicant profile can also be used in the assessment.
• Your job search will end upon your first failure to fulfil your obligations (from 1 March 2026 onwards).
• The content of the employment plan will become more specific. The plan will always include the following: 
  – Information related to the obligation to seek employment. 
  – Other measures related to job searches or business development. 
  – The deadline for implementing the plan.
• If necessary, the plan will also include the following: 
  – Dates for supplementary job search discussions. 
  – Information on services that meet service needs. 
  – Reports related to work ability and functional capacity. 
  – A possible exemption from the obligation to create and publish a job applicant profile.
  – Reports on the implementation of the plan.

Will there be any changes for part-time workers?

Yes. The new law states the following:

• From 1 January 2026 onwards, part-time workers will be required to apply for four jobs per month, unless their work ability prevents them from taking on additional work.
• For example, if you are unable to take on additional work due to your state of health, you will not be required to seek employment.

Furthermore, the provisions concerning the obligation to seek employment will be clarified. In the future, the law will specify the following matters in greater detail:

• When the obligation to seek employment is imposed.
• When an exception can be made to its commencement.
• When the amount of the obligation can be reduced.
• When no obligation is imposed at all.

Some of the current exemptions will be removed. For example, in a situation where employment is already certain, a separate exemption is no longer used. Instead, this is taken into account by reducing the amount of the job search obligation.

How will young people be affected?

The obligation for young people to seek education will be expanded.

• The primary option will still be to apply for education that leads to a qualification and provides vocational skills.
• Young people can also fulfil this obligation through full-time studies at a community college or sports training centre.
• In the employment plan, it is also possible to agree on seeking education not aimed at obtaining a qualification.
• The plan may also specify an alternative date for reviewing whether the young person has applied for places at educational institutions.

The aim is for the young person to choose studies that support both their employment and future study opportunities.

What changes will there be to the jobs indicated by the employment authority?

When the employment authority indicates a job for the jobseeker to apply for, it is more binding than before.  

• The employment authority is responsible for identifying suitable job vacancies.
• These job offers are binding from the start of the jobseeker’s unemployment.
• Before offering a job, the authority assesses the jobseeker’s work experience, education, competence and work ability.
• Publishing a jobseeker profile or meeting the number of applications agreed in the employment plan is no longer sufficient to fulfil the job-search obligation if a specific job has been designated.

In practice, this means that having already submitted the number of applications agreed upon in the job search plan is not a valid reason for refusing to apply for an indicated job.

Which recipients of social assistance will be required to register as seekers of full-time employment in the future?

From 1 February 2026 onwards, the obligation will also apply to persons who

• work part-time (less than 30 hours per week)
• study full-time without receiving primary student financial aid
• work as entrepreneurs but earn less than the amount of labour market subsidy
• have received a doctor's statement of inability to work but do not receive disability benefits
• care for a child under three years of age at home without receiving child home care allowance.

If you fall into one of the above categories and do not register as a jobseeker with Employment Services within one month of being requested to do so, Kela will reduce the basic amount of your social assistance by 50%.

When can Kela reduce the basic amount of social assistance?

Kela may reduce the basic amount of your social assistance by 50% if you do not apply for primary benefits within one month of the law coming into force despite being advised to do so. Before Kela makes the decision, you will have the opportunity to submit an explanation as to why the reduction would be unreasonable.

Kela may also reduce the basic amount due to a mandatory waiting period for unemployment security:

• 20% for the first month of the waiting period
• 40% for the following months until the benefit payments resume.

The duration of the reduction in the basic amount is determined in full months according to the length of the mandatory waiting period:

• Seven-day mandatory waiting period → the basic amount is reduced for one month.
• Failure to fulfil the obligation to seek employment or the duty to work → the basic amount is usually reduced for six months, but at least two months.

If a jobseeker engages in misconduct under labour market policy, the reduction of the basic allowance may continue without a two-month maximum limit. An exception to this is cases of a failure to fulfil obligations related to the integration plan, in which the maximum period remains unchanged. You can avoid the reduction in the basic amount by participating in employment services.

What should I do if the reduction in the basic amount causes financial difficulties?

Contact the social services in your municipality of residence. They will help you assess your situation and provide guidance on how to proceed. 

Unemployment security obligations will become stricter as of 1 March 2026 (TYKE bill). The legislative amendments will tighten compliance with deadlines and eliminate the written reminder procedure. The first failure to fulfil one’s obligations will result in a seven-day mandatory waiting period. Your job search will end upon your first failure to fulfil your obligations

From March onwards, Job Market Finland will send automatic text message reminders one day before each deadline, but the responsibility for meeting the deadlines lies with the jobseeker.

How can I ensure that I receive reminders about my tasks and appointments?

Make sure that your contact details are up to date in Job Market Finland's e-services. If your details are correct, you will receive an automatic text message reminder one day before each deadline.

If you fall ill or are unable to attend your appointment, notify Employment Services and reschedule your appointment in good time.

What is a mandatory waiting period?

The mandatory waiting period is a period during which no unemployment benefits are paid.

From 1 March 2026 onwards,

• your first failure to attend an appointment or fulfil your obligations will result in a mandatory waiting period of seven calendar days
• the written reminder procedure will be discontinued.

You may be subject to a mandatory waiting period in cases such as failing to attend an appointment, not applying for a job indicated for you or not implementing your employment plan.

What will change in unemployment security sanctions?

The system of sanctions will be simplified into two tiers:

• First failure: seven-day mandatory waiting period.
• Your job search will end upon your first failure to fulfil your obligations
• Repeated failures within a 12-month period: six-week duty to work.

You can fulfil your duty to work by working for six weeks or by participating in services approved by Employment Services. This is shorter than the previous 12-week requirement.

The following transitional legislation will be applied when assessing the recurrence of non-compliance:

Non-compliance before 1 March 2026

•  If your failure to comply occurred on 28 February 2026 or earlier, the old four-tiered system of sanctions regarding unemployment benefits will be applied.

Non-compliance for which no sanctions have been imposed before 1 March 2026

• If your failure to comply occurred before 1 March 2026 but no mandatory waiting period or work obligation has been imposed on you, this non-compliance will not be taken into account if new failures occur after 1 March 2026.

Non-compliance for which sanctions have been imposed before 1 March 2026

• If a mandatory waiting period or work obligation has been imposed on you before 1 March 2026, this will be taken into account when considering the recurrence of your non-compliance if your new failure occurs within 12 months of the failure that led to sanctions.

Will I no longer receive written reminders about failures to fulfil my obligations?

You will not. According to the law,

• the written reminder procedure will be discontinued altogether
• the jobseeker is responsible for fulfilling their obligations.

You will receive information about your obligations at the beginning of and during your job search. Reminder messages from Job Market Finland will replace the previous written reminders.

What does the duty to work mean?

The duty to work is imposed if you repeatedly fail to fulfil your obligations over a period of 12 months.

Once the duty to work has been imposed,

• you must either work or participate in an approved service for six weeks in order to receive benefits
• it can also be fulfilled through services indicated by Employment Services.

If I am placed on a mandatory waiting period, where can I get support for living expenses?

During the mandatory waiting period, you are not eligible for unemployment benefits. If your income is not sufficient to cover your essential expenses, you can

• apply for social assistance from Kela
• Apply for supplementary or preventive social assistance from the City of Helsinki.
• Contact adult social services.
   

A new general social security benefit (HE 112/2025 vp) is being prepared in Finland, with the first phase scheduled to be introduced on 1 May 2026. The general social security benefit is part of a broader social security reform aimed at creating a single, unified form of support that includes a basic component for everyday expenses, a housing component for housing costs and a discretionary component as a last resort.

In the first phase, the general social security benefit will be a new means-tested benefit that secures the basic livelihood of unemployed jobseekers.

What is the general social security benefit?

The general social security benefit is a new social security benefit that merges several existing benefits into a single package. In the first phase, the general social security benefit will replace the labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance in May 2026. This will also mean the termination of these benefits.

The general social security benefit will be paid to unemployed jobseekers who are not entitled to an earnings-related unemployment allowance or whose earnings-related unemployment allowance period has ended.

The plan is to gradually expand the scope of the general social security benefit to include other forms of assistance, such as housing benefits.

How much is the general social security benefit?

The amount of the general social security benefit is equivalent to the current level of the labour market subsidy and basic unemployment allowance: €37.21 per day, or an average of around €800 per month (2025 level).

The basic amount of the benefit will not change, but the general social security benefit will include a means test, which may reduce the amount of the benefit.

What affects the amount of the general social security benefit?

The general social security benefit is a means-tested benefit. The following factors affect the amount of the benefit:

• Income other than salary or wages: half of the amount exceeding €311/month is deducted.
• Salary and wages: treated as before, with half of your salary or wages taken into account. 
  – For example, a salary of €1,000 reduces the benefit by €500.
• Your savings and assets do not affect the amount of the benefit.
• The income of your partner or roommate does not affect the benefit.
• Your parents' income may affect the amount if you live with them. 
  – The income limit is €2,500 per month, and half of any amount exceeding this limit is deducted. 

If you are aged 25 or over, you can pursue certain open higher education studies without this affecting your entitlement to unemployment benefit. The change applies to studies starting on or after 1 July 2026.

The change applies to open higher education studies organised by:

• universities
• universities of applied sciences
• adult education centres
• summer universities.

The change also applies to open higher education route and path studies.

Please bear in mind, however, that the obligations of unemployed jobseekers remain in force during open higher education studies. In other words, you must continue to apply for jobs in accordance with your employment plan, be prepared to accept full-time work and participate in employment promoting services if they are offered to you.

If your studies began before 1 July 2026

If your studies began before 1 July 2026, they will remain subject to the provisions in force prior to the legislative change.

What kind of studies does the change apply to?

The change applies to open higher education studies organised by universities, universities of applied sciences, adult education centres and summer universities. The change also applies to open higher education route and path studies.

What kind of studies does the change not apply to?

The change does not apply to open higher education studies offered by folk high schools, nor does it apply to studies organised by universities and universities of applied sciences under a separate study right.

Do I need to notify Employment Services about my studies?

If you are aged 25 or over and the change applies to your studies, you do not need to notify Employment Services of your studies for the purposes of determining your entitlement to unemployment security.

However, Employment Services may ask about your studies if they need to determine whether the change applies to your studies.

Do I need to keep looking for work while studying?

Yes. Your obligations as an unemployed jobseeker remain in force during open higher education studies.

This means that you must continue to:

• apply for job opportunities in accordance with your employment plan;
• be prepared to take on a full-time job;
• participate in employment promoting services if they are offered to you.

You should therefore organise your studies in such a way that you are able to apply for and take up work and fulfil your obligations relating to your job search.

Can I turn down a full-time job to focus on my studies?

You cannot refuse a full-time job on the grounds that you are pursuing open higher education studies. You must be prepared to take on a full-time job even while you are studying.

Can I start open higher education studies as independent studies supported by unemployment benefit?

You cannot start open higher education studies on or after 1 July 2026 as independent studies supported by unemployment benefit. This change also applies to jobseekers under the age of 25.

If your studies supported by unemployment benefit began on or before 30 June 2026, the provisions previously in force will apply to them.

What if I am under 25?

The new exemption applies to jobseekers aged 25 and over.

For those under the age of 25, the other provisions of the Unemployment Security Act concerning studies continue to apply. [Text Wrapping Break]Jobseekers under the age of 25 are still required to notify Employment Services of open higher education studies, and the impact of such studies on unemployment benefit is assessed on the basis of the scope of the studies.

What if I enrolled in open higher education studies before 1 July 2026, but the studies do not start until after that date?

If your studies begin on or after 1 July 2026, the new provisions will apply. If your studies began before 1 July 2026, the previous provisions apply.

A job applicant profile is a profile created on Job Market Finland that describes your skills, education and work experience, and the type of job that you are looking for. According to the new law, you must publish your profile within 15 business days of starting your job search.

From 1 September 2026 onwards, creating and publishing a profile will be mandatory for almost all jobseekers. Your profile will be anonymous and public throughout your job search and will remain valid for a maximum of six months at a time.

What is a job applicant profile?

A job applicant profile is a brief presentation of your skills on the Job Market Finland platform. When you publish your profile, employers will be able to contact you when they are looking for employees. This way, you can also receive job offers for positions that are not openly advertised.

Your job applicant profile describes

• your skills and education
• your work experience
• what kind of a job you are looking for.

According to the law,

• you must create and publish your profile within 15 business days of starting your job search
• publishing a profile will be mandatory from 1 September 2026 onwards
• your profile must remain public throughout your entire job search
• the profile is public but anonymous, and it will be valid for a maximum of six months at a time.

The creation or publication of a profile may be waived in cases such as the following:

• You are unable to use Job Market Finland.
• Publishing a profile would be clearly unjustified in your situation.
• You are in full-time employment or are a full-time entrepreneur or student.

If you do not create or publish a profile yourself, the authority will create one based on an AI-generated suggestion from Job Market Finland.